Communication apparatus and system, and control method

ABSTRACT

This invention solves various problems associated with apparatus registration and communications after registration in an n:n communication system based on, e.g., a Bluetooth protocol. Information of a newly registered wireless communication apparatus is sent to already registered wireless communication apparatuses. A communication with the already registered apparatus starts by sending a Page message based on the Bluetooth protocol. When an apparatus that output a registration request in response to an Inquiry message based on the Bluetooth protocol is selected, identification information of the selected apparatus is stored. Upon registration, already registered apparatuses are not displayed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a communication apparatus which cancommunicate with a plurality of terminals by, e.g., Bluetooth.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Wireless terminals such as cordless telephone systems, wireless LANs,and the like have prevailed remarkably. Such wireless communicationsystem is constituted by a master apparatus and a plurality of slaveapparatuses.

In these apparatuses, their ID numbers are registered before they areused, so as not to interfere with other wireless systems. In this case,ID numbers are manually registered between the master and slaveapparatuses.

As an example except for a cordless telephone system in which master andslave apparatuses are registered to have one-to-one correspondence,Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-038960 has proposed a technique that canregister a slave apparatus having different IDs in a master apparatus.

Also, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-205239 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,477)has proposed a technique that can register one slave apparatus in aplurality of master apparatuses.

On the other hand, in a terminal that makes a wireless communicationbased on Bluetooth that has increasingly received a lot of attention inrecent years, since Bluetooth aims at making communications amongarbitrary terminals, there is no notion of registration.

However, when Bluetooth terminals are used without registration as inprior art, since a communication starts by transmitting an Inquirymessage that an arbitrary terminal can receive, a response message maybe received from a wireless terminal to which the user does not want toconnect, and the ID number and the like of that wireless terminal may bedisplayed.

For example, when the user wants to make wireless communications amongwireless terminals in a house, a wireless terminal in a neighboringhouse may receive an Inquiry message, and may send a response message.When a response message is received from a wireless terminal to whichthe user does not want to connect, and the name and ID number of thatterminal are displayed, the operator must determine if a communicationcan be made with that terminal, thus requiring a complicated procedure.Also, data may be erroneously sent to a wireless terminal in aneighboring house.

On the other hand, the conventional wireless communication system is a1:n communication system, while a wireless communication system based onBluetooth is an n:n communication system. For this reason, the number ofcombinations of communication paths is very large, and it is difficultto manually register for all combinations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to allow easy registration ofapparatuses in, e.g., Bluetooth.

It is another object of the present invention to simplify acommunication start sequence to a registered apparatus upon making acommunication based on, e.g., Bluetooth.

It is still another object of the present invention to prevent operationerrors when registering an apparatus to be used in, e.g., a Bluetoothcommunication.

It is still another object of the present invention to solve variousproblems in an n:n communication system.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the forgoing object isattained by providing a wireless communication apparatus comprising:registration means for registering identification information of a firstwireless terminal to which permission to communicate wirelessly is to begranted; and informing means for sending information associated with thefirst wireless terminal registered by the registration means to otheralready registered wireless communication apparatuses in response toregistration by the registration means.

According to a preferred aspect of the present invention, the forgoingobject is attained by providing a wireless communication system having aplurality of wireless communication apparatuses for making acommunication based on a Bluetooth protocol, a first wirelesscommunication apparatus comprising: registration means for registeringidentification information of a wireless terminal to which permission tocommunicate wirelessly is to be granted; and informing means for sendingthe identification information of the wireless terminal registered bythe registration means to a second wireless communication apparatus, andthe second wireless communication apparatus comprising: storage meansfor storing the received identification information, wherein when awireless communication is made with the wireless communication terminal,the identification information of which is stored in the storage means,a connection sequence starts by sending a Page message based on theBluetooth protocol.

According to another preferred aspect of the present invention, theforgoing object is attained by a wireless communication system having aplurality of wireless communication apparatuses for making acommunication based on a Bluetooth protocol, a first wirelesscommunication apparatus comprising: sending means for sending an Inquirymessage upon setting a registration mode in which identificationinformation of another wireless communication apparatus to whichpermission to communicate is to be granted can be registered; displaymeans for displaying information associated with wireless communicationapparatuses which output responses to the Inquiry message; and storagemeans for storing identification information of the wirelesscommunication apparatus selected based on the information displayed bythe display means.

According to still another preferred aspect of the present invention,the forgoing object is attained by providing a wireless communicationsystem having a plurality of wireless communication apparatuses formaking a wireless communication using a Bluetooth protocol, a firstwireless communication apparatus comprising: means for switching to aregistration mode for registering identification information of anotherwireless communication apparatus to which permission to communicate isgranted; and means for sending a message which instructs a secondwireless communication apparatus to register information that containsidentification information and usable profile type information of thefirst wireless communication apparatus to the second wirelesscommunication apparatus in the registration mode, the second wirelesscommunication apparatus comprising: means for registering theinformation that contains the identification information and usableprofile type information of the first wireless communication apparatus,and sending a message which instructs the first wireless communicationapparatus to register information that contains identificationinformation and usable profile type information of the second wirelesscommunication apparatus to the first wireless communication apparatusupon receiving the message, and the first wireless communicationapparatus registering the information that contains the identificationinformation and usable profile type information of the second wirelesscommunication apparatus upon receiving the message.

According to still another preferred aspect of the present invention,the forgoing object is attained by providing a wireless communicationapparatus for making a wireless communication based on a Bluetoothprotocol, comprising: registration means for registering identificationof a wireless terminal to which permission to communicate wirelessly isto be granted; and display means for, when information associated with awireless communication apparatus, which output a response to an Inquirymessage based on the Bluetooth, is displayed, displaying informationassociated with the wireless communication apparatus, which output theresponse to the Inquiry message, on the basis of the identificationinformation registered by the registration means and identificationinformation of the wireless communication apparatus, which output theresponse to the Inquiry message.

According to still another preferred aspect of the present invention,the forgoing object is attained by providing a communication apparatuscomprising: storage means for storing information associated with othercommunication apparatus; sending means for sending a predeterminedmessage to the other communication apparatus; reception means forreceiving a response message to the message sent by the sending means;and display means for displaying information associated with acommunication apparatus that sent the response message received by thereception means, wherein the display means displays informationassociated with a communication apparatus which is not stored in thestorage means.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following descriptions taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate thesame or similar parts throughout the figures thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and,together with the descriptions, serve to explain the principle of theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a facsimile 101 in the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a cordless telephone 102 in the embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a PC 103 in the embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a digital camera 104 in the embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a printer 105 in the embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart showing the operation of a registrationrequest-side apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart showing the operation of a registrationreception-side apparatus in the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a flow chart showing the operation upon making a communicationbetween wireless communication apparatuses in the embodiment of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described belowwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

<Hardware Arrangement>

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system of this embodiment. Referring toFIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a facsimile which serves as afirst wireless communication apparatus. The facsimile 101 is connectedto a public communication line, and can exchange data with othercommunication apparatuses via wireless communications based onBluetooth.

Reference numeral 102 denotes a cordless telephone which serves as asecond wireless communication apparatus, and can make a voicecommunication based on Bluetooth. Reference numeral 103 denotes a PC(personal computer), which serves as a third wireless communicationapparatus, and can make a wireless data communication based on Bluetoothwhen a Bluetooth card is inserted into its PC card slot. Referencenumeral 104 denotes a digital camera, which serves as a fourth wirelesscommunication apparatus, and has a function of sending imagesphotographed by the camera by Bluetooth. Reference numeral 105 denotes aprinter, which serves as a fifth wireless communication apparatus, andhas a function of printing data received from another wirelesscommunication apparatus by Bluetooth. Reference numeral 106 denotes aprinter, which serves as a sixth wireless communication apparatus, andhas a function of printing data received from another wirelesscommunication apparatus by Bluetooth. Reference numeral 107 denotes aPC, which serves as a seventh wireless communication apparatus, and canmake a wireless data communication based on Bluetooth when a Bluetoothcard is inserted into its PC card slot. Assume that the printer 106 andPC 107 belong to a group (e.g., possessed by a neighbor) different fromthat of the wireless communication apparatuses 101 to 105.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the internal arrangement of thefacsimile as the first wireless communication apparatus. Referring toFIG. 2, reference numeral 201 denotes a CPU as a controller of theapparatus main body; 202, a ROM for storing various programs of the CPUand permanent data; and 203, an SRAM which is used to register andrecord registration data (various software switches, communicationdestination data, the telephone number and abbreviation of theapparatus, and registered ID information of wireless terminals and thelike) required for the system. The SRAM 203 is backed up by a primarybattery 204 so as not to lose data when a main power supply is turnedoff. Reference numeral 205 denotes a Bluetooth processor used when thisapparatus makes a wireless communication with another wireless terminal.The Bluetooth processor 205 comprises an LSI with a built-in CPU forassembling/disassembling data to/from a predetermined frame format,making frequency hopping control, and executing a Bluetooth protocolprocess, and a 2.4-GHz RF circuit.

Reference numeral 206 denotes a known ink-ejection color printer as aprinter of this apparatus. The color printer 206 prints binary data on aprint paper sheet at a print resolution of 360 dpi while moving acartridge that integrates an ink tank and ink-jet unit in the main scandirection of the print paper sheet. A color cartridge that combines C,M, Y, and K ink tanks and ink-jet units, and a monochrome cartridge thatcombines a monochrome ink tank and ink-jet unit are available. Whetherthe color or monochrome cartridge is mounted on the printer can bediscriminated by the CPU based on the arrangement of electrical contactsof the cartridge. The maximum print width upon monochrome printing isB4, and the maximum print width upon color printing, i.e., upon mountingthe color cartridge, is A4.

Reference numeral 207 denotes an image processor which executes imageprocesses such as a binarization process for converting multi-valuedimage data into a binary image, image enlargement/reduction, and thelike which are required on the main body side. The image processor 207executes resolution conversion for converting the resolution of imagedata into a resolution of 360 dpi of the printer 206, and transfersprint data to the color printer.

Reference numeral 208 denotes an image scanner which is used to scan adocument to be sent as facsimile data, or to form a color copy, andcomprises a CIS (Contact Image Sensor) and the like.

Reference numeral 209 denotes a modem (which has a DTMF signalrecognition function in addition to V.29, V.21, and V.27ter in thisembodiment) used to make a facsimile communication in a known G3 mode orthe like.

Reference numeral 210 denotes a main body control panel, which comprisesa key input unit used to make dial operation and various operationinstructions, and to make various setups, and a liquid crystal displayunit and LED used to indicate apparatus status and various data; 211, aloudspeaker for outputting various alarm tones, ringing tones, and anaudio signal on the line; 212, a known NCU for interfacing between theanalog telephone line and the apparatus; and 213, a handset used to makeconversation using this apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the internal arrangement of thecordless telephone as the second wireless communication apparatus.Referring to FIG. 3, reference numeral 301 denotes a CPU for controllingthe cordless telephone; 302, a ROM for storing various control programsof the CPU; 303, a RAM for registering and recording ID information andthe like of registered wireless terminals and the like; 304, a liquidcrystal display unit for making various displays; 305, a control panelhaving a key input unit, which is used to make dial operation andvarious operation instructions, and to make various setups; 306, amicrophone; 307, a loudspeaker; and 308, a Bluetooth processor, whichcomprises an LSI with a built-in CPU for assembling/disassembling datato/from a predetermined frame format, making frequency hopping control,and executing a Bluetooth protocol process, and a 2.4-GHz RF circuit.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the internal arrangement of the PC asthe third wireless communication apparatus. Referring to FIG. 4,reference numeral 401 denotes a CPU for controlling the apparatus; 402,a ROM for storing various programs of the CPU; 403, a RAM forregistering and recording ID information and the like of registeredwireless terminals and the like; 405, a hard disk; 406, a liquid crystaldisplay unit for making various displays; and 407, a control panel whichcomprises a keyboard, pointing device, and the like.

Reference numeral 408 denotes a PC card slot which can receive aBluetooth wireless communication card to make a wireless datacommunication. The Bluetooth wireless communication card comprises anLSI with a built-in CPU for assembling/disassembling data to/from apredetermined frame format, making frequency hopping control, andexecuting a Bluetooth protocol process, and a 2.4-GHz RF circuit. Notethat the PC 107 as the seventh wireless communication apparatus has thesame arrangement as that shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the internal arrangement of thedigital camera as the fourth wireless communication apparatus. Referringto FIG. 5, reference numeral 501 denotes a CPU for controlling theapparatus; 502, a ROM for storing various programs of the CPU; 503, aRAM for registering and recording ID information and the like ofregistered wireless terminals and the like, and for storing photographedimages; 504, a CCD for photographing; 505, an image processing LSI formaking compression and the like of an image upon storing an imagephotographed by the CCD 504 in the RAM 503 or a memory card; 506, amemory card interface (I/F) for interfacing with a memory card forstoring images; and 507, a Bluetooth processor, which comprises an LSIwith a built-in CPU for assembling/disassembling data to/from apredetermined frame format, making frequency hopping control, andexecuting a Bluetooth protocol process, and a 2.4-GHz RF circuit.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing the internal arrangement of theprinter as the fifth wireless communication apparatus. Referring to FIG.6, reference numeral 601 denotes a CPU for controlling the apparatus;602, a ROM for storing various programs of the CPU; 603, a RAM forregistering and recording ID information and the like of registeredwireless terminals and the like; 604, a USB interface; 605, an imageconversion processor for making image conversion to print an image; 606,an ink-jet head used to print an image from the image conversionprocessor; and 607, a Bluetooth processor, which comprises an LSI with abuilt-in CPU for assembling/disassembling data to/from a predeterminedframe format, making frequency hopping control, and executing aBluetooth protocol process, and a 2.4-GHz RF circuit.

The operation upon registering other wireless communication apparatusesin the facsimile 101 as the first wireless communication apparatus willbe explained below using FIGS. 7 and 8.

<Registration of First Terminal>

The operation for registering the cordless telephone 102 as the secondwireless communication apparatus in the facsimile 101 as the firstwireless communication apparatus will be explained below.

A registration mode is launched by key operations on the cordlesstelephone 102. If the registration mode is launched (S701), the cordlesstelephone 102 begins to send an Inquiry message as an inquiry number ofBluetooth (S702). Upon receiving the Inquiry message (S801), thefacsimile 101, PC 103, digital camera 104, and printer 105 send InquiryResponse messages as responses (S802). Note that each apparatus sends,as an Inquiry Response message, the ID number as its own Bluetoothdevice address, and information indicating attributes of each apparatus.For example, the facsimile 101 sends information “usableprofile=printing profile, still image profile, cordless telephonyprofile, apparatus name=FAX1”; the PC 103 sends information “usableprofile=OBEX profile, printing profile, apparatus name=PC1” the digitalcamera 104 sends information “usable profile=still image profile,apparatus name=DC1”; and the printer 105 sends information “usableprofile=printing profile, apparatus name=PRN1”.

Upon receiving the Inquiry Response messages (S703), the cordlesstelephone 102 extracts the ID number (Bluetooth device addresses) andattribute information of the facsimile 101, PC 103, digital camera 104,and printer 105 that output the Inquiry Response messages from theInquiry Response messages, and checks if an already registered apparatusor apparatuses are included. If an already registered apparatus orapparatuses are found, the ID numbers and attribute information ofapparatuses other than these apparatuses are displayed on the displayunit in correspondence with each other (S704). In this description,since none of apparatuses are registered, the received ID numbers andattribute information of all the apparatuses are displayed on thedisplay unit in correspondence with each other.

If the operator of the cordless telephone 102 selects the facsimile 101from the displayed ID numbers and attribute information (S705), thecordless telephone 102 sends a Page message to the facsimile 101 usingthe ID number of the facsimile 101 to call the facsimile 101 (S706). Thecordless telephone 102 stores the selected ID number and attributeinformation in the RAM 303 (S707).

Upon receiving the Page message (S803), the facsimile 101 sends a PageResponse message to the cordless telephone 102 to inform the cordlesstelephone 102 of reception of the Page message (S804). Upon receivingthe Page Response message (S708), the cordless telephone 102 sends theID number as its Bluetooth device address and information indicatingattributes (“usable profile=cordless telephony profile, apparatusname=CT1”) to the facsimile 101 (S709), and further sends a registrationrequest message to the facsimile 101 (S710).

Upon receiving the ID number and attribute information of the cordlesstelephone 102 (S805), the facsimile 101 checks if the received ID numberand attribute information have already been registered in a registrationtable (to be described later) (S806). If the ID number and attributeinformation have already been registered, the facsimile 101 executes aprocess on the basis of an instruction (e.g., to print data) from theapparatus that output the inquiry (S807). If the received ID number andattribute information have not been registered in the registration tableyet, the facsimile 101 stores the received ID number and attributeinformation in the RAM 203 (S808) and starts a timer (S809). If aregistration request message is received from the cordless telephone 102before the timer reaches time-out (S810, S811), the facsimile 101displays a message for prompting the user to set a registration mode onthe display unit. In this state, if the operator operates the console ofthe facsimile 101 within a predetermined period of time to start theregistration mode (S814), the facsimile 101 sends a registrationresponse message to the cordless telephone 102 (S815).

If the registration request message cannot be received before the timerstarted in step S809 reaches time-out or if the operator of thefacsimile 101 does not make any operation for setting the registrationmode within a predetermined period of time, the facsimile 101 sends aPage Reject message to the cordless phone 102 (S812) to end the process.

If the cordless telephone 102 receives a Page Reject message (S711), itends the process; if the cordless telephone 102 receives a registrationresponse message in place of a Page Reject message (S712), it sends, tothe facsimile 101, a registration instruction message that instructs thefacsimile 101 to register the ID number, usable profile, and apparatusname of the cordless telephone 102 output in step S709 (S713).

Upon receiving the message (S816), the facsimile 101 stores informationstored in the RAM 203 in step S808, i.e., usable profile=cordlesstelephony profile and apparatus name=CT1, in the registration table inthe RAM 203 in correspondence with the ID number of the cordlesstelephone 102 (S817). Subsequently, the facsimile 101 sends, to thecordless telephone 102, a registration instruction message thatinstructs the cordless telephone 102 to register the ID number, usableprofile, and apparatus name of the facsimile 101, which were output asthe Inquiry Response message in step S802 (S818).

Upon receiving the registration instruction message from the facsimile101 (S714), the cordless telephone 102 stores the information of thefacsimile 101 stored in the RAM 303 in step S707, i.e., usable profile=printing profile, still image profile, and cordless telephony profile,and apparatus name=FAX1, in the registration table in the RAM 303 incorrespondence with the ID number of the facsimile 101 (S715).

The facsimile 101 searches to see if another already registered terminalis present (S819). In this description, since no terminals other thanthe cordless telephone 102 are registered in this stage, it isdetermined that no terminals are registered, and the facsimile 101 sendsa registration completion message (S824), thus ending the registrationprocess of the first terminal.

Upon receiving the registration completion message from the facsimile101 (S716), the cordless telephone 102 ends the registration process.

<Registration Operation of Second Terminal>

Subsequently, the operation for registering the PC 103 as the thirdwireless communication terminal in the facsimile 101 as the firstwireless communication apparatus will be explained below.

Communication software stored in the hard disk of the PC 103 is launchedto establish connection to a Bluetooth card. After that, the Bluetoothcard can be controlled by inputting AT commands.

In order to register the Bluetooth card, if the operator of the PC 103inputs AT@REG, the Bluetooth card starts a registration mode. If theregistration mode is launched (S701), the PC 103 begins to send anInquiry message (S702). Upon receiving the Inquiry message (S801), thefacsimile 101, cordless telephone 102, digital camera 104, and printer105 send Inquiry Response messages as responses to inform the PC 103 oftheir ID numbers as the Bluetooth device addresses and attributeinformation (S802).

Upon receiving the Inquiry Response messages (S703), the PC 103 checksif one or a plurality of the facsimile 101, cordless telephone 102,digital camera 104, and printer 105 have already been registered. If analready registered apparatus or apparatuses are found, the PC 103displays the ID numbers and attribute information of apparatuses exceptfor those of such apparatus (cordless telephone 102 in this embodiment)on the display unit (S704) If the operator of the PC 103 selects thefacsimile 101 from the displayed ID numbers and attribute information(S705), the PC 103 sends a Page message to the facsimile 101 (S706).Also, the PC 103 stores the ID number and attribute information of theselected facsimile 101 in a memory in the Bluetooth card (S707).

Upon receiving the Page message (S803), the facsimile 101 sends a PageResponse message to inform the PC 103 of reception of the Page message(S804). Upon receiving the Page response message (S708), the PC 103sends the ID number as the Bluetooth device address and attributeinformation (“usable profile=OBEX profile, printing profile, apparatusname=PC1”) to the facsimile 101 (S709). Also, the PC 103 sends aregistration request message to the facsimile 101 (S710).

Upon receiving the ID number and attribute information of the PC 103(S805), the facsimile 101 checks if the received ID number and attributeinformation have already been registered in the registration table(S806). If the ID number and attribute information have already beenregistered, the facsimile 101 executes a process on the basis of aninstruction (e.g., to print data) from the apparatus that output theinquiry (S807). If the received ID number and attribute information havenot been registered in the registration table yet, the facsimile 101stores the received ID number and attribute information in the RAM 203(S808) and starts the timer (S809). If a registration request message isreceived from the PC 103 before the timer reaches time-out (S810, S811),the facsimile 101 displays a message for prompting the user to set aregistration mode on the display unit. In this state, if the operatoroperates the console of the facsimile 101 within a predetermined periodof time to start the registration mode (S814), the facsimile 101 sends aregistration response message to the PC 103 (S815).

If a registration request message cannot be received before the timerstarted in step S809 reaches time-out or if the operator does not makeany operation for setting the registration mode within a predeterminedperiod of time, the facsimile 101 sends a Page Reject message to the PC103 (S812) to end the process.

If the PC 103 receives a Page Reject message (S711), it ends theprocess; if the PC 103 receives a registration response message (S712),it sends, to the facsimile 101, a registration instruction message thatinstructs the facsimile 101 to register the ID number, usable profile,and apparatus name of the PC 103 output in step S709 (S713).

Upon receiving the message (S816), the facsimile 101 stores informationof the PC 103 stored in the RAM 203, i.e., “usable profile=OBEX profileand printing profile, and apparatus name=CT1”, in the registration tablein the RAM 203 in correspondence with the ID number of the PC 103(S817). Subsequently, the facsimile 101 sends, to the PC 103, aregistration instruction message that instructs the PC 103 to registerthe ID number, usable profile, and apparatus name of the facsimile 101,which were output as the Inquiry Response message in step S802 (S818).

Upon receiving the registration instruction message from the facsimile101 (S714), the PC 103 stores the information of the facsimile 101stored in the memory in the Bluetooth card in step S707, i.e., usableprofile=printing profile, still image profile, and cordless telephonyprofile, and apparatus name=FAX1, in the registration table in thememory in the Bluetooth card in correspondence with the ID number of thefacsimile 101 (S715).

The facsimile 101 searches to see if another already registered terminalis present (S819). As a result of search, it is found that the cordlesstelephone 102 has already been registered. The facsimile 101 sends aregistered terminal information message that contains the ID number andattribute information (apparatus name (CT1), usable profile name(cordless telephony profile)) of the cordless telephone 102 to the PC103 (S820).

Upon receiving the message (S717), the PC 103 stores the usable profilename and apparatus name in the registration table in the Bluetooth cardin correspondence with the ID number of the cordless telephone 102(S718).

The facsimile 101 then starts a process for also registering the PC 103in the cordless telephone 102. The facsimile 101 sends a Page message tothe cordless telephone 102 (S821). Upon receiving a Page Responsemessage from the cordless telephone 102 (S822), the facsimile 101launches a registration information transfer mode. That is, thefacsimile 101 sends a registered terminal information message thatcontains the ID number, apparatus name, and usable profile of the newlyregistered PC 103 to the cordless telephone 102 (S823). Upon receivingthe message, the cordless telephone 102 stores the apparatus name andusable profile in the registration table in the memory in correspondencewith the ID number of the PC 103.

Upon completion of this information transfer, the facsimile 101 sends aregistration completion message to the PC 103 and cordless telephone 102(S824), thus ending the registration process. Upon receiving theregistration completion message, the PC 103 and cordless telephone 102end the registration process (S716).

With the aforementioned sequence, the facsimile 101, cordless telephone102, and PC 103 can be registered as wireless communication apparatuseswhich can communicate with each other.

<Registration Operation of Third and Subsequent Terminals>

The same process is done upon registering the third and subsequentwireless communication apparatuses. The digital camera 104 is registeredin the facsimile 101 as apparatus name=DC1 and usable profile=stillimage profile.

Upon completion of the registration process, the facsimile 101 sends theID numbers, apparatus names, and usable profiles of the cordlesstelephone 102 and PC 103, which have already been registered, to thedigital camera 104 (S820). On the other hand, the facsimile 101 sendsthe ID number, apparatus name, and usable profile of the digital camera104 to the cordless telephone 102 and PC 103 (S823).

The printer 105 is registered in the facsimile 101 as apparatusname=PRN1 and usable profile=printing profile.

Upon completion of the registration process, the facsimile 101 sends theID numbers, apparatus names, and usable profiles of the cordlesstelephone 102, PC 103, and digital camera 104, which have already beenregistered, to the printer 105 (S820). On the other hand, the facsimile101 sends the ID number, apparatus name, and usable profile of theprinter 105 to the cordless telephone 102, PC 103, and digital camera104 (S824).

With the aforementioned sequence, the facsimile 101, cordless telephone102, PC 103, digital camera 104, and printer 105 can recognize eachother as terminals in one group in which they can communicate with eachother.

<Operation Upon Communication Between Wireless CommunicationApparatuses>

As an example of the operation upon communications between wirelesscommunication apparatuses, the operation for printing a documentdisplayed on the PC 103 will be described below using FIG. 9.

If a print operation is selected at the PC 103 (S901), the Bluetoothcard is booted, and begins to send an Inquiry message (S902). Inresponse to this message, all the wireless communication apparatuseswithin the Bluetooth range, i.e., the facsimile 101, cordless telephone102, digital camera 104, printer 105 and 106, and PC 107 send InquiryResponse messages to the PC 103.

Upon receiving the Inquiry Response messages (S903), the PC 103 checkswith reference to the registration table in the memory if the ID numbersreceived as the Inquiry Response messages have already been registeredin the registration table (S904), and searches apparatuses with thealready registered received ID numbers for an apparatus that can use theprinting profile required to print (S905).

In this description, since the wireless communication apparatuses thathave already been registered in the PC 103 are the facsimile 101,cordless telephone 102, digital camera 104, and printer 105, the printer106 and PC 107, which are not registered, are excluded fromcommunication targets (S904).

Since the facsimile 101 and printer 105 have printing profiles as theirusable profiles among the already registered apparatuses (S905), it isrecognized that other wireless communication apparatuses are excludedfrom communication targets, and the ID numbers and names (FAX1 and PRN1)of the facsimile 101 and printer 105 are displayed on the print processwindow of the PC 103 (S906).

Assume that the operator of the PC 103 selects FAX1 since he or she islocated near the facsimile 101 (S907). The PC 103 sends a Page messageto the selected facsimile 101 (S908). Upon receiving that message, thefacsimile 101 sends back a Page Response message.

Upon receiving the Page Response message (S909), the PC 103 launches theprinting profile (S910), and then sends print data to the facsimile 101after negotiation of parameters required to print (S911). Upon receivingthe print data, the facsimile 101 transfers the data to its internalprinter to print the data.

As described above, even when a Bluetooth radio wave can reach theneighboring house, since the names of wireless communication apparatuseswhich are not registered in advance are not displayed, data can beprevented from being sent to a wrong destination. Also, since the usableprofiles and apparatus names are stored in correspondence with the IDnumbers, only wireless communication apparatuses that can operate aredisplayed in correspondence with an application, and a data transmissionerror to a communication apparatus which cannot operate can beprevented.

The operation when a non-registered terminal attempts to access will beexplained below. Assume that the PC 107 which is not registered in thegroup of the apparatuses 101 to 105 attempts to print at the facsimile101.

When a print operation is selected at the PC 107, a Bluetooth card isbooted and begins to send an Inquiry message. In response to thismessage, all wireless communication apparatuses within the Bluetoothrange, i.e., the facsimile 101, cordless telephone 102, PC 103, digitalcamera 104, and printers 105 and 106 send Inquiry Response messages tothe PC 107.

Upon receiving the Inquiry Response messages, the PC 107 displays the IDnumbers of all wireless communication apparatuses from which the InquiryResponse messages were received. Assume that the operator of the PC 107selects the facsimile 101 to print. The PC 107 then sends a Page messageto the facsimile 101 to attempt to establish connection.

Upon receiving the Page message from the PC 107, the facsimile 101 sendsa Page Response message. In response to the Page Response message, thefacsimile 101 receives the ID number and attribute information from thePC 107. However, since the ID number received from the PC 107 is notregistered in the registration table, and no registration requestmessage is sent from the PC 107, the facsimile 101 determines that itcannot communicate with the PC 107, and sends a Page Reject message,thus ending the process. Even when a registration request message isreceived from a wireless communication apparatus in a neighboring house,since operation for starting the registration mode is never done, a PageReject message is also sent in such case to end the process.

As described above, even when a non-registered wireless communicationapparatus erroneously attempts to establish connection, such connectioncan be reliably avoided.

(Second Embodiment)

In the first embodiment, when information of a newly registered wirelesscommunication apparatus is sent to the already registered wirelesscommunication apparatuses, Page messages are sent to the individualwireless communication apparatuses to establish connection of wirelesschannels. However, since information with the same contents need only besent to the individual wireless communication apparatuses, theregistration process can be simplified by sending a broadcast message.

(Third Embodiment)

In the above embodiment, wireless communication apparatuses in the homehave been assumed. However, in various other situations, apparatuses canbe similarly grouped when they are used.

For example, assume that a plurality of apparatuses are equipped in aclosed space environment such as a meeting room of an office. In themeeting room, a whiteboard, projector, and printer are equipped, andusers of the meeting room bring their PCs. The whiteboard, projector,and printer are registered in one group as in the first embodiment. Notethat individual communication apparatuses can use the followingprofiles:

-   -   whiteboard=OBEX, still image, printing; projector=OBEX, still        image; printer=printing; and PC=OBEX, printing

The operation for registering a PC as a new member in the meeting roomwill be explained below. In an environment such as a meeting room, sincecommunication apparatuses to be registered exchange frequently, theregistration operation can be done at the registration side unlike inthe first embodiment.

When the user inputs a command AT@REG in the PC, the Bluetooth cardinserted in the PC launches a registration mode. After the registrationmode is launched, the PC begins to send an Inquiry message. Uponreceiving the Inquiry message, the whiteboard, projector, and printersend Inquiry Response messages.

Upon receiving the Inquiry Response messages, the PC displays the IDnumbers and attribute information of the whiteboard, projector, andprinter that output the Inquiry Response messages on its display unit.When the operator of the PC selects the ID number of the whiteboard fromthe displayed ID numbers, the PC sends a Page message to the whiteboard.Upon receiving a Page Response message from the whiteboard that receivedthe Page message, the PC sends its ID number and attribute information(“usable profile=OBEX profile, printing profile, apparatus name=PC1”),and starts a registration process.

The PC sends to the whiteboard a registration request message containinga password unique to the whiteboard. The whiteboard compares thepassword in the received registration request message with a passwordpre-stored in its memory. If the two passwords do not match, thewhiteboard sends a registration deny message to the PC to end theregistration operation.

On the other hand, if the two passwords match, the whiteboard sends aregistration response message to the PC. Upon receiving the registrationresponse message, the PC sends a registration instruction message to thewhiteboard. Upon receiving that message, the whiteboard storesinformation of the PC, i.e., “usable profile=OBEX profile, printingprofile, apparatus name=PC1” in its memory in correspondence with the IDnumber of the PC. The whiteboard then sends a registration completionmessage to the PC, thus ending the registration process.

The whiteboard searches for other already registered terminals. Assumethat it is found as a result of search that the projector and printerhave been registered. The whiteboard sends to the PC a registeredterminal information message which contains the ID numbers, apparatusnames (PRJ1, PRN1), and usable profile names of the projector andprinter. Upon receiving the message, the PC stores the usable profilenames and apparatus names in the memory of the Bluetooth card incorrespondence with the ID numbers of the projector and printer.

Subsequently, the whiteboard starts a registration process of the PC tothe projector and printer. The whiteboard sends Page messages to theprojector and printer. Upon receiving Page Response messages from theprojector and printer, the whiteboard launches a registered informationtransfer mode. That is, the whiteboard sends a registered terminalinformation message that contains the ID number, apparatus name, andusable profile name of the newly registered PC. Upon receiving thismessage, the projector and printer store the apparatus name and usableprofile name in their memories in correspondence with the ID number ofthe PC 103.

With the aforementioned sequence, a PC as a new member in the meetingroom can be registered as a wireless communication apparatus which cancommunicate with the projector and printer equipped in the meeting room.

(Fourth Embodiment)

In the above embodiment, the ID number and apparatus name of a wirelesscommunication apparatus to be registered are recognized viacommunications between the apparatuses. However, upon registering thefirst wireless communication apparatus, the ID number and apparatus namemay be input using the console of the wireless communication apparatuswhich is to receive registration information, thus obtaining the sameeffect.

In this case, when the wireless communication apparatus which is toreceive registration information receives information of a wirelesscommunication apparatus to be registered, it sends information of thenewly registered wireless communication apparatus to the alreadyregistered wireless communication apparatuses. Also, the apparatus sendsinformation of the already registered wireless communication apparatusesto the newly registered wireless communication apparatus.

In this embodiment, registration can be done by operations at only theapparatus which is to receive registration information, and a passwordor the like need not be stored.

(Fifth Embodiment)

In the above embodiment, a wireless communication starts by sending anInquiry message. For example, in the first embodiment, when the PC 103makes a print operation, it displays the names of communicationapparatuses which have already been registered and can use a printingprofile among the terminals from which Inquiry Response messages werereceived.

However, in the first embodiment, if the facsimile 101 cannot use aprinting profile, a communication may start from the Page sequence asfollows.

When the print operation is launched, the PC 103 confirms usableprofiles of the registered wireless communication apparatuses. If the PCconfirms that the printer 105 can use a printing profile, it sends aPage message to the printer 105.

Upon receiving a Page Response message from the printer 105, the PCenters the printing profile sequence and, after that, the same processas in the first embodiment can be executed.

As described above, according to the present invention, registration ofapparatuses using, e.g., Bluetooth can be simplified.

When a communication is made using, e.g., Bluetooth, a communicationstart process to the registered apparatus can be simplified.

Operation errors upon registering a communication apparatus using, e.g.,Bluetooth can be prevented.

Various problems in an n:n communication system can be solved.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments andvarious changes and modifications can be made within the spirit andscope of the present invention. Therefore, to apprise the public of thescope of the present invention, the following claims are made.

1. A wireless communication apparatus comprising: a sending deviceconfigured to send an Inquiry message upon setting a registration modefor registering identification information of wireless communicationterminals; a display device configured to display information associatedwith wireless communication terminals which output responses to theInquiry message; a storage device configured to store identificationinformation of the wireless communication terminal selected based on theinformation displayed by said display device; a denial device configuredto deny, when said wireless communication apparatus receives an Inquirymessage from a wireless communication terminal having identificationinformation which is not stored in said storage device, a communicationwith the wireless communication terminal that sent the Inquiry message,unless said wireless communication apparatus receives a request forstoring the identification information; a notification device configuredto make, when said wireless communication apparatus receives the Inquirymessage from the wireless communication terminal, a notification to anoperator, upon receiving the request; and a registration deviceconfigured to register, in response to control by the operator based onthe notification by said notification device, the identificationinformation of the wireless communication terminal that sent therequest.
 2. The wireless communication apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said wireless communication apparatus sends informationassociated with a wireless communication terminal, the information ofwhich is newly stored, to wireless communication terminals,identification information of which has already been stored.
 3. Thewireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein saidwireless communication apparatus sends information associated withwireless communication terminals, identification information of whichhas already been stored, to the wireless communication terminal, theinformation of which is newly stored.
 4. The wireless communicationapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display device displaysinformation of only a wireless communication terminal, identificationinformation of which is not stored, of the wireless communicationterminals, which output responses to the Inquiry message.
 5. Thewireless communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when saidwireless communication apparatus sends data to a wireless communicationterminal, identification information of which is stored, duringoperation other than the registration mode, said wireless communicationapparatus starts a connection sequence.